Friday, January 12th, in the year of our Lord 2018

By Jonathan Clark

Open Doors Documents Muslim Persecution of Christian Women

As we reported yesterday, Open Doors released their 2018 World Watch List of countries with the most persecution against Christians.  

David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA, released a message this week, highlighting three trends in the report. First, Curry noted North Korea tops the list again as a rogue nation where their leader is treated like a god while doing everything to hunt down and destroy Christianity.

Second, Curry spoke about increased persecution of Christian women with over 2,000 documented cases last year, amounting to six women being abused every day, mostly by Muslim men.

“The data seems to prove that Christian women are the most vulnerable population in the world today with sexual harassment, rape, and forced marriage being prime tactics of extremists around the world against Christians.”

Third, Curry spoke about the continued spread of Islamic persecution.

“Nine of the top ten on the World Watch List this year and the massive majority on the top 50 have the driver of Islamic extremism.”

Curry encouraged Christians in the U.S. to really pray for the church internationally.

“We need as people of faith to stand peacefully to support, encourage, and pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are followers of Jesus. This should be a rally cry for the body of Christ for the people who call themselves by the name of Jesus to know that this is not individual incidents, but this is happening around the world on a massive level.” 

You can examine the World Watch List linked in our transcript today at TheWorldView.com.

Group That Brings the Gospel to Jewish People Celebrates 175 Years

The group called “Christian Witness to Israel” celebrates their 175th anniversary this month as a missionary organization, reports Christian Today. 

Their CEO Joseph Steinberg said, “Jewish people are not beyond the grasp of God’s saving power. We are excited by a future where Jewish people love and embrace the Messiah who came to set them free.”

Christian Witness to Israel has seen “a marked increase in the number of Jewish people coming to faith.” And over the last couple of years, the ministry’s team of international missionaries report 60 Jewish people coming to faith in Jesus, a “significant increase over previous years.”

Romans 10:12-13 says, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

UK Democratic Party Leader Steps Down Because the Party Opposes Biblical Teaching

British politician Tim Farron stepped down as the leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrat party last year, saying it was impossible for him to hold faithfully to the Bible’s teachings and lead the progressive, liberal party. 

In a recent interview with Premier Radio, Farron said he regretted telling media in the past that homosexuality is not a sin when pressed for his beliefs. Farron stated about the questioning, “Foolishly and wrongly, [I] attempted to push it away by giving an answer that, frankly, was not right.” 

Farron also commented on opposition to Christianity, saying, “Christianity is and always should be countercultural so if you’re not being persecuted a bit there’s something wrong. . . Christianity is utterly radical and countercultural . . . it’s about living for Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 4:12, 13 says, “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you. . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

Latin American Human Rights Court Calls for Legalization of Homosexual Marriage

A Latin American human rights court said on Tuesday that nations in the region should legalize faux homosexual marriage, reports Reuters. This came in response to a petition submitted by the president of Costa Rica two years ago.

Many Latin American countries do not support this abomination legally, but that has been changing with people of the same sex being allowed to marry each other in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and parts of Mexico, despite opposition from churches.

Violent Crime Rises in Germany Due to Muslim Migrants

A recent study published by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and funded by the German government found a rise in violent crime in the country in connection with the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants, mostly young males from Muslim countries.

Criminologist Christian Pfeiffer found a 10.4 percent rise in violent crimes in the northern state of Lower Saxony between 2015 and 2016 almost entirely due to refugees, reports Fox News. 

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a German newspaper on Sunday the wave of Muslim migrants was “not a wave of refugees, that was an invasion.”

Psalm 37 reminds us, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”

Congress Passes Bill to Renew Internet Surveillance Program

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday to renew the National Security Agency’s internet surveillance program. A number of lawmakers failed in an attempt to amend the measure to require a warrant before intelligence agencies can examine communications data belonging to American citizens.

President Trump initially called out the surveillance program as having been used against his presidential campaign. After speaking with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, however, Trump tweeted support for the bill saying it is “about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land.” 

Governor of Nebraska Announces Budget Plan to End Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, a Republican, announced budget plans this year to stop taxpayer funding of the murder of the unborn after an attempt failed last year, reports Life News. 

Ricketts’ proposal would revise the state’s distribution of federal Title X healthcare funds to “ensure that no funds are used to subsidize abortion.”

The funds would be redistributed to community health centers with comprehensive care that do not perform abortions. 

Business Owner in Brazil Helps Illiterate Employees Learn to Read

And finally, when a company in Brazil found a number of their employees were illiterate, the business helped them learn to read, reports Good News Network. 

The owner Nataly Bonato discovered over 50 percent of the janitorial staff could not read. So she helped them set up time with a school that used some of their workspace to learn. 

Five months later, students were already writing letters, and every custodian was able to read simple texts.  

Closing Line

And that’s The World View in 5 Minutes on this Friday, January 12th in the year of our Lord 2018. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldView.com. I’m Adam McManus. Seize the day for Jesus Christ.